Oneplus Nord 2 5G Review

• Overview
• Design and Build Quality
• Display
• Performance
• Software and User Interface
• Camera
• Battery Life
• Connectivity and Networking
• Additional Features
• Comparison with Other Related Phones
• Pros and Cons
• Conclusion

Overview

The OnePlus Nord 2 is a mid-range smartphone released in July 2021 and is the successor to the original Nord. It promises to deliver top-notch specs at an affordable price point. The phone features a 6.43-inch Fluid AMOLED display with a 90Hz refresh rate and HDR10+ support. It is powered by the Mediatek Dimensity 1200 chipset and comes with up to 12GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage. The triple-camera setup on the rear includes a 50MP primary sensor, and the front camera is a 32MP sensor. The phone comes with a 4500mAh battery with support for 65W fast charging.

Design and Build Quality

The OnePlus Nord 2 is a sleek and stylish device that boasts a premium design, with its glass front and back, and a plastic frame. The phone's dimensions of 159.1 x 73.3 x 8.3 mm make it comfortable to hold, and its weight of 189g gives it a solid, substantial feel.

The phone comes in three color variants, Gray Sierra, Blue Haze, and Green Wood, with an additional Pac-Man Edition. The colors are vibrant and eye-catching, adding to the phone's overall aesthetics.

The Nord 2's build quality is impressive, with Gorilla Glass 5 protection on both the front and back of the phone, providing durability and protection against scratches and cracks. The plastic frame is sturdy and robust, ensuring the device can withstand everyday wear and tear.

The buttons and ports are well-placed and easily accessible, with a USB Type-C 2.0 port for charging and data transfer. The phone's dual-SIM capability is also a welcome feature, allowing users to use two SIM cards simultaneously.

Overall, the OnePlus Nord 2's design and build quality are exceptional. Its premium materials and solid construction make it an attractive device that feels great to hold and use.

Display

The OnePlus Nord 2 boasts a 6.43-inch Fluid AMOLED display with a resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels and a 90Hz refresh rate. The display is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 5 and offers HDR10+ support, which ensures that content appears vibrant and detailed.

The color accuracy and vibrancy of the display are impressive, making it a great choice for watching movies and gaming. The brightness levels are also commendable, ensuring that the display remains visible even in bright outdoor conditions. The touch sensitivity and responsiveness of the screen are also noteworthy, making it easy to navigate through the phone's interface.

Overall, the display of the OnePlus Nord 2 is one of its standout features. It provides an immersive viewing experience with excellent color accuracy, brightness, and refresh rate. The HDR10+ support adds to its appeal, making it an ideal choice for those who enjoy watching high-quality content on their phones.

Performance

The OnePlus Nord 2 boasts an impressive performance that can rival some of the top-tier smartphones in the market. Under the hood, it is powered by a Mediatek MT6893 Dimensity 1200 chipset, an octa-core CPU, and a Mali-G77 MC9 GPU. These components work seamlessly together to deliver a smooth and responsive user experience.

The phone comes in different storage and RAM options, including 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, and 256GB 12GB RAM. This means that users can choose the right configuration that fits their needs and budget.

Multitasking and app performance is also impressive on the OnePlus Nord 2. Users can run several apps simultaneously without experiencing any lags or slowdowns. Even when switching between multiple apps, the phone can keep up with ease.

Gaming on the OnePlus Nord 2 is a breeze. The phone can handle even the most demanding games with ease, thanks to its powerful chipset and GPU. The phone's 90Hz refresh rate also makes gaming more immersive and enjoyable.

In terms of benchmarks, the OnePlus Nord 2 scores high on AnTuTu (512164 on v8 and 598022 on v9) and GeekBench (2792 on v5.1). In real-world usage, the phone performs flawlessly, whether it's browsing the internet, streaming videos, or using resource-intensive apps.

Overall, the OnePlus Nord 2 delivers an exceptional performance that is sure to impress even the most demanding users. It provides a smooth and responsive user experience, making it a great choice for anyone looking for a high-performance smartphone.

Software and User Interface

The OnePlus Nord 2 runs on Android 11 with the OxygenOS 11.3 user interface. This user interface is known for its clean and intuitive design, making it easy to navigate for users of all levels. The interface is also highly customizable, allowing users to change themes, icons, and fonts.

One of the standout features of the OxygenOS 11.3 is the ability to easily switch between light and dark modes, which can help reduce eye strain and improve battery life. Additionally, the user interface offers a range of useful features, such as the ability to create app folders, customize the notification center, and use gestures for navigation.

The Nord 2 also comes with a range of pre-installed apps, including Google apps, the OnePlus community app, and a range of third-party apps. While some users may find these apps useful, others may find them to be unnecessary bloatware. However, the good news is that most of these apps can be uninstalled if desired.

Overall, the OxygenOS 11.3 user interface is highly responsive and user-friendly, making it a pleasure to use. The regular software updates from OnePlus also ensure that the interface remains up-to-date and secure.

Camera

The OnePlus Nord 2 comes with an impressive rear camera setup that features a 50 MP wide lens, an 8 MP ultra-wide lens, and a 2 MP depth sensor. The camera is equipped with PDAF and OIS, which helps capture stunning and vivid images even in low-light conditions. The camera app on the Nord 2 is intuitive and easy to use, making it a great option for both amateurs and professionals.

The camera's zoom capabilities are also noteworthy, allowing users to zoom in up to 5x without losing image quality. The device also offers an impressive video recording quality of up to 4K@30fps, along with gyro-EIS for smooth and stable footage. The front-facing camera features a 32 MP sensor that captures great selfies, making it perfect for social media enthusiasts.

The camera's image quality is impressive, with accurate colors and good dynamic range. The Nord 2 is particularly good at capturing detail and texture, especially in well-lit conditions. However, the camera struggles a bit in low-light settings, and the images can end up looking noisy and grainy.

Overall, the camera on the OnePlus Nord 2 is a solid performer, offering great features and image quality. It may not be the best camera out there, but for the price point, it's definitely a great option.

Battery Life

Connectivity and Networking

The OnePlus Nord 2 offers a range of connectivity options that cater to all types of users. The phone supports 5G, 4G LTE, 3G, and 2G networks, providing lightning-fast download and upload speeds. In terms of Wi-Fi, the phone supports Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, which ensures fast and stable internet connectivity. Additionally, the phone comes with Bluetooth 5.2, A2DP, LE, and aptX HD, allowing users to connect to a range of wireless devices seamlessly.

The OnePlus Nord 2 also comes with NFC, enabling users to make contactless payments through the phone. The phone does not come with a 3.5mm headphone jack, but it does support USB Type-C 2.0, OTG. This means that users can connect headphones or other audio devices using a USB Type-C adapter.

In terms of navigation, the phone comes with GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, SBAS, and NavIC. This means that users can rely on the phone for accurate and reliable navigation, whether they are driving or walking. The phone also comes with a range of sensors, including a fingerprint sensor, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, and compass.

Overall, the OnePlus Nord 2 offers a comprehensive range of connectivity and networking options. Whether you need fast internet speeds, wireless connectivity, or reliable navigation, this phone has got you covered.

Additional Features

The OnePlus Nord 2 is packed with a range of additional features that enhance the overall user experience. Firstly, the device is equipped with a powerful set of stereo speakers that deliver clear and crisp audio, making it perfect for multimedia consumption. The device also comes with support for the latest Wi-Fi 6 standard, which enables faster internet connectivity and better network performance.

The OnePlus Nord 2 also features a highly responsive in-display fingerprint sensor that ensures quick and secure access to the device. Additionally, the phone comes with support for 5G connectivity, which enables faster data transfer speeds and smoother streaming.

Another notable feature of the OnePlus Nord 2 is its impressive camera setup that boasts a triple rear camera system, featuring a 50MP primary sensor, an 8MP ultra-wide sensor, and a 2MP depth sensor. This camera setup is capable of capturing stunning photos and videos in various lighting conditions.

Lastly, the device is equipped with a robust and reliable battery that delivers long-lasting performance. The 4500mAh battery can easily last a full day with moderate usage, and the device also supports fast charging technology that allows users to recharge the battery in a matter of minutes.

Overall, the OnePlus Nord 2 is a feature-packed device that offers a great user experience, with a range of additional features that enhance its functionality and usability.

Comparison with Other Related Phones

When it comes to comparing the OnePlus Nord 2 with other related phones, there are a few devices that come to mind. One of the closest competitors is the Google Pixel 4a, which is also priced in the mid-range segment. The Pixel 4a has a slightly smaller display, but it does come with a better camera compared to the Nord 2. However, the Nord 2 has a more powerful processor and faster charging capabilities.

Another phone that can be compared to the Nord 2 is the Samsung Galaxy A52, which is also a mid-range smartphone. The A52 has a larger display and a bigger battery compared to the Nord 2, but it also comes with a slower processor and doesn't support as fast charging.

Finally, the iPhone SE (2020) is also a device that can be compared to the Nord 2, although it is priced a bit higher. The SE has a smaller display and a weaker battery compared to the Nord 2, but it does come with a more powerful processor and better camera capabilities.

Overall, the OnePlus Nord 2 is a solid mid-range offering that can compete with other devices in its price range. It offers a good balance of performance, camera, and charging capabilities, making it a great choice for those who are looking for a well-rounded smartphone experience.

Pros and Cons

Conclusion

In conclusion, the OnePlus Nord 2 is a solid mid-range smartphone that offers impressive features and capabilities. This phone is a great choice for those who want a device that delivers powerful performance, excellent camera quality, and a beautiful display. The phone's sleek and modern design, coupled with its ergonomic build, make it comfortable to hold and use for extended periods.

Furthermore, the OxygenOS 11.3 user interface is intuitive and easy to navigate, providing a hassle-free user experience. The battery life is also impressive, with the 4500mAh battery lasting throughout the day and the 65W fast charging technology ensuring a quick recharge.

However, the lack of expandable storage might be a drawback for some users, while the absence of a headphone jack may be an inconvenience for others.

Overall, the OnePlus Nord 2 offers excellent value for money, with its advanced features, high-end specifications, and competitive pricing. If you are in the market for a mid-range smartphone, the OnePlus Nord 2 is definitely worth considering.